Sixteen people, including 10 Bronco players, were killed and 13 injured when the team’s bus and a semi collided at an intersection in eastern Saskatchewan as the team was heading to a playoff game in Nipawin.

Chris Joseph’s son Jaxon was also killed in the crash. Speaking to Global News in St. Albert, Alta., on Tuesday night, Joesph said the guilty plea conjured up mixed emotions for him and other Edmonton-area parents whose sons were involved in the crash.

“I don’t want to speak for all the families, but I think we’re grateful that he chose not to drag it out,” he said.

“I think there’s maybe a little bit of respect, I don’t even know if that’s the right word, but maybe a little bit of respect that the remorse he felt made him want to just plead guilty.”

Saskatoon criminal defence lawyer Mark Brayford said his client pleaded voluntarily, giving up his right to a trial.

“His position to me was, ‘I just want to plead guilty, I don’t want you to plea bargain, I don’t want a trial,’” Brayford said outside of court.

Brayford said his client didn’t want to make things worse by having a trial and is devastated by the grief he has caused the families.

“He’s overwhelmed by the expressions of sympathy and kindness some of the families and players have expressed to him in spite of the fact their grief is his fault, and he’s very sorry for that,” Brayford said.

Thomas said to hear Sidhu take responsibility for his actions was “powerful.”

“To hear him use his own words to plead guilty, it was powerful,” an emotional Thomas said.

“It acknowledged what we felt right from the start, that he was responsible for that accident scene, and now we can move forward with the next part of this.”

LISTEN: Scott Thomas joins The Morning News in Calgary to discuss how Broncos families are processing the guilty plea

The Humboldt Broncos hockey club thanked Sidhu for “taking responsibility for his actions and pleading guilty.”

“Mr. Sidhu’s guilty pleas are a positive step in the healing process for the survivors, grieving families, the team and our community,” said Broncos president Jamie Brockman in a statement.

“I commend Mr. Sidhu for taking responsibility for his actions and sparing the survivors and the families the anguish and turmoil of rehashing this tragedy in court.”

Sidhu, who is from Calgary, has been out on $1,000 bail since July with a number of conditions. He must stay in his Calgary home under a curfew, is banned from driving, and had to surrender his passport.

WATCH BELOW: Coverage of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, and charges against the semi driver

Semi driver charged in Humboldt Broncos crash granted adjournment to new year

Seven charges are under the federal Motor Vehicle Transport Act: two counts of failing to maintain logs for driver’s hours of service, three counts of failing to monitor the compliance of a driver under safety regulations, and two counts of having more than one daily log for any day.

The eighth charge under the Alberta Traffic Safety Act alleges failure to have or follow a written safety program.